• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.297-316
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• 1992

The Daebong gold-silver deposits is located in 8 km southwest of Cheongyang, Chungcheongnam-Do, Republic of Korea. The gold-silver-bearing hydrothermal quartz veins was formed within the Precambrian metasediments of Gyeonggi massif. Ore minerals occur as mainly of pyrite, sphalerite (0.78~6.19 wt.% Cd), galena, pyrrhotite and minor amounts of chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, magnetite, ilmenite, chalcocite, electrum (55.00~89.55 wt.% Au) and argentite. The gangue minerals are quartz, calcite, chlorite, K-feldspar, biotite. Wall-rock alterations such as chloritization, silicification, pyritization, carbonatization and sericitization can be observed near the quartz veins. According to the mineral paragenetic sequence based on vein structure and mineral assemblages, three stage mineralizations can be recognized. Fluid inclusion, sulfur isotope and thermodynamic data show that the ore minerals were dominantly deposited at the between 388 and $204^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities of 8.1~0.3 wt.% equivalent NaCl, and sulfur isotope value 4.84 to 6.40 per mil of sulfides indicates igneous sources of sulfur in the hydrothermal system and fluid inclusion salinity data suggest that thermal fluids may have magmatic origin with some degree mixing of meteoric water.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.537-548
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• 1994

The Weolyu gold-silver deposits at Hwanggan, Chungcheongbukdo, is of a late Cretaceous $(74.24{\pm}1.63Ma)$ epithermal vein-type, and is hosted in the quartz porphyry of late Cretaceous age. Based on mineral paragenetic sequence interpreted from vein structure and mineral assemblages, three stages mineralization were distinguished. A variety of ore minerals occurs including pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena with small amount of electrum, native silver, argentite, pearceite, sb-pearceite, argyrotite. The gangue minerals are quartz, rutile, calcite, apatite, fluorite and rhodochrocite. Wall-rock alteration such as pyritization, chloritization, sericitization, silicification is observed near the quartz veins. Au-Ag minerals were crystallized at middle and late stage of the two mineralization sequences. Results from the analysis of fluid inclusion and thermodynamic calculation indicate that Au-Ag mineral deposits were formed primarily by cooling and dilution of hydrothermal fluids($165{\sim}313^{\circ}C$, 0.4~2.4wt.% equivalent NaCl) with some degree mixing of meteoric water.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.201-213
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• 1998

From the Jungwon and Munkyeong areas which are among the famous producers of the carbonate-type groundwaters in Korea, various kinds of natural waters (deep groundwater, shallow groundwater and surface water) were collected between 1996 and 1997 and were studied for hydrogeochemical and environmental isotope (${\delta}^{34}S_{so4}$, ${\delta}^{18}O$, ${\delta}D$)systematics. Two types of deep groundwaters (carbonate type and alkali type) occur together in the two areas, and each shows distinct hydrogeochemical and environmental isotope characteristics. The carbonate type waters show the hydrochemical feature of the 'calcium(-sodium)-bicarbonate(-sulfate) type', whereas the alkali type water of the 'sodium-bicarbonate type'. The former type waters are characterized by lower pH, higher Eh, and higher amounts of dissolved ions (especialJy, $Ca^{2+}$, $Na^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $HCO_3{^-}$ and $SO_4{^{2-}}$). Two types of deep groundwaters are all saturated or supersaturated with respect to calcite. Two types of deep groundwaters were both derived from pre-thermonuclear (about more than 40 years old) meteoric waters (with lighter 0 and H isotope data than younger waters, i.e., shallow cold groundwaters and surface waters) which evolved through prolonged water-rock interaction. Based on the geologic setting, water chemistry, and environmental isotope data, however, each of these two different types of deep groundwaters represents distinct hydrologic and hydrogeochemical evolution at depths. The carbonate type groundwaters were formed through mixing with acidic waters that were derived from dissolution of pyrites in hydrothermal vein ores (for the Jungwon area water) or in anthracite coal beds (for the Munkyeong area water). If the deeply percolating meteoric waters did not meet pyrites during the circulation, only the alkali type groundwaters would form. This hydrologic and hydrogeochemical model may be successfully applied to the other carbonate type groundwaters in Korea.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.265-280
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• 2003

The Mugeuk mineralized area that associated with the pull-apart type Cretaceous Eumseong basin is composed of several gold-silver vein deposits that are emplaced in late Cretaceous biotite granite. The gold-silver deposits in the area show various hydrothermal alteration zones as well as Au/Ag ratios and ore mineralogy. The Geumbong mine showing relatively high gold fineness is composed of multiple veins and show alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow phyllic \longrightarrow subphyllic \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. In contrast, The Taegeuk mines show the low fineness values, in far southern part are characterized by increasing tendency of simple and/or stockwork veins. The deposit displays alteration pattern; vein \longrightarrow propylitic \longrightarrow subpropylitic zone. Variations of alteration zone with depth show that phyllic zone are dominant in deeper level and propylitic zone sporadically overlapped by argillic zone are dominant in shallow level. The differences of alteration pattern between the gold-silver deposits are reflect the evolution of the hydrothermal fluids; the ore-forming fluids of the Geumbong mine are at relatively high temperature and salinity and highly-evolved meteoric water, developing phyllic zone, the Taegeuk mine containing greater amounts of less-evolved meteoric waters shows relatively low temperature and salinity in ore-forming fluids, developing propylitic zone. The various physicochemical environment for gold-silver mineralization in the Mugeuk mineralized area is due to proximity from heat source area (Mugeuk mine) to marginal area (Taegeuk mine) in a geothermal field. Therefore, it is suggested that the criteria for project exploration in the area are to focus on the area proximal to heat source and phyllic zone.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.513-525
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• 2009

The Buyeong gold-silver deposit consists of quartz veins that fill along the NS fault zone within Cretaceous Goseong formation. Mineralization can be divided into hypogene and supergene stages. Hypogene stage is associated with hydrothermal alteration minerals such as sericite, pyrite, chlorite, epidote and sulfides such as pyrite, pyrrhotite, marcasite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena and galenobismutite. Supergene stage is composed of malachite, goethite, chalcocite, and sphalerite oxide. Fluid inclusion data indicate that homogenization temperatures and salinities range from 112 to $340^{\circ}C$ and from 0.2 to 7.9 wt.% NaCl, respectively. Sulfur(3.2~3.9‰) isotope composition indicates that ore sulfur was derived from mainly magmatic source as well as partly host rocks. The calculated oxygen(4.3~6.0‰) and hydrogen(-60~-64‰) isotope compositions indicate that hydrothermal fluids may be meteoric origin with some degree of mixing of another meteoric water for paragenetic time.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-88
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• 2001

The Geochemica] and isotope studies on the $CO_2$-rich water from the Shinchon area were carried out. The Shinchon $CO_2$-rich water belongs to Ca(Na)-$HCO_3$ type showing very high $P_{CO_{2}}$ ( $10^{-0.35}$ ~ $10^{0.29}$ atm) and TDS (835-3,144 mg/L). The results of geochemical and isotope analysis indicate that $CO_2$ gas is originated from the deep seated source such as mantle or magmatic gases. The $CO_2$-rich water was evolved by interaction with deep-seated granite and major water-rock interaction was dissolution of p]agioclase resulting high Na content of $CO_2$-rich water. Precipitation and dissolution of secondary calcite might be accompanied with the dissolution of plagioclase maintaining Na/Ca ratio. High contents of K and $SO_4$ indicate that the geochemical characteristics of $CO_2$-rich water were partially affected by interaction with upper sedimentary rock during uprising to surface. N03 and tritium contents suggest that the $CO_2$-rich water was mixed with low $CO_2$ groundwater at some locations. The oxygen-hydrogen isotopes show that all water samples were derived from meteoric waters and the $CO_2$-rich water was isotopically re-equilibrated with lighter $CO_2$ gas. Although some carbon isotope data show isotopically heavy values, carbon isotope data indicate that the $CO_2$ gas was possib]y derived by deep source.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.289-309
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• 1993

Milyang pyrophyllite deposit which was formed by hydrothermal alteration occurs in Late Cretaceous andesitic tuff in the Milyang area, Gyeongsangnamdo. The wall rock alteration and genesis of the Milyang pyrophyllite deposit were studied. The ore minerals are composed dominantly of pyrophyllite accompanied by small amounts of quartz, kaolinite, pyrite, dumortierite and diaspore. The alteration halo of this deposit can be divided into three zones on the basis of mineral assemblage; pyrophyllite, sericite and chlorite zone. The common mineral assemblages of each alteration zone are as follows: (1) pyrophyllite zone; pyrophyllite-quartz-kaolinite-pyrite-dumortierite-diaspore, (2) sericite zone; sericite-quartz-pyrite-kaolinite, and (3) chlorite zone; chlorite-plagioclase-quartz. Major element chemistry shows that characteristic depletion in MgO, CaO, and $Na_2O$ and relative increase in FeO from less altered chlorite zone to extensively altered pyrophyllite zone corresponding to variation in mineral assemblages. The paragenesis of ore minerals, oxygen isotope data, chlorite and illite geothermometry suggest that ore deposit was formed at about $250{\sim}330^{\circ}C$. Both hydrogen and silica activities are high in pyrophyllite zone. Potassium activity increases in sericite zone while hydrogen activity becomes low in chlorite zone. The pyrophyllite zone was formed relatively higher temperature than those of sericite and chlorite zones. The ore fluid was considered to be magmatic water in origin derived from the residual granitic magma which interacted with meteoric water.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2002

Mulgeum, Yangseong, Maeri and Kimhae iron ore deposits in Gyeongnam Province are hydrothermal skarn type magnetite ore deposits in propylitized andesitic rock near the contact with Cretaceous Masanite. Symmetrical zoned skarns are commonly developed around the magnetite veins. The skarn zones away from the vein are quartz-garnet skarn, epidote skarn and epidote-orthoclase skarn. Oxygen isotope analyses of coexisting minerals from andesitic rock, Masanite and major skarn zones, and of magnetite, hematite and quartz were conducted to provide the information on the formation temperature, the origin and the evolution of the hydrothermal solution forming the iron ore deposits. Becoming more distant from the ore vein, temperatures of skarn zones represent the decreasing tendency, but most ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values of skarn minerals represent no variation trend, and also the values are relatively low. Judging from all the isotopic data from the ore deposits, the major source of hydrothermal solution altering the skarn zones and precipitating the ore bodies was magmatic water derived from the deep seated Masanite. This high temperature hydrothermal solution rising through the fissures of propylitized andesitic rock was mixed with some meteoric water, and occurred the extensive isotopic exchange with the propylitized andesitic rock, and formed the skarns. During these processes, the temperature and ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ value of hydrothermal solution were lowered gradually. At the main stage of iron ore precipitation, because all the alteration was already finished, the new rising hydrothermal solution formed only the magnetite ore without oxygen isotopic exchange with the wall rock.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.227-241
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• 2001

Several $Co_2$-rich springs in the Chungcheong area, Le., the Angsung spring, the Chojung spring, the Myungam spring, the Bukang spring and the Daepyung spring have been long known for their particular water chemistry. The occurrences of these springs are closely related to the geologic structure of Mesozoic granite such as dyke swarms, fault zones and the geologic boundary between granite and its adjacent gneiss. The $Co_2$-rich water samples show a high $Co_2$ concentration ($P_{CO2}$ 0.25 atm to 0.99 atm), weak acidic pHs and the electrical conductivity ranging from 101 to 2,950 ${\mu}$S/cm. The $Co_2$-rich water samples are classified into the Ca-$HC0_3$ type and the Ca(Na)-$HCO_3$) type in chemical composition. Environmental isotopic data $^{2}H/^{1}H, ^{18}O/^{16}O$) indicated that $Co_2$-rich water was meteoric origin. The ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of $Co_2$-rich water range from -3.1$\textperthousand$ to -6.8$\textperthousand$ PDB. The values indicate that $H_2CO_3^0$ and $HC0_3^-$ of the water samples are mainly originated from a deep-seated source and partly contributed from carbonatc minerals. The major minerals determining the chemistry of $Co_2$-rich watcr arc probably the carbonate minerals which are present as veins and secondary minerals, and the plagiocalse in granite and gneiss.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.337-350
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• 1995

The Hwacheon-ri mineralized area is located within the Cretaceous Gyeongsang Basin of the Korean peninsula. The mineralized area includes the Hwacheon, Daeweon, Kuryong and Cheongryong mines. Each of these mines occurs along copper-bearing hydrothermal quartz veins that crosscut late Cretaceous volcanic rocks, although some disseminated ores in host rocks also exist locally. Mineralization can be separated into three distinct stages (I, II, and III) which developed along preexisting fracture zones. Stage I is ore-bearing, whereas stages II and III are barren. The main phase of ore mineralization, stage I, can be classified into three substages (Ia, Ib and Ic) based on ore mineral assemblages and textures. Substage Ia is characterized by pyrite-arsenopyrite-molybdenite-pyrrhotite assemblage and is most common at the Hwacheon deposit. Substage Ib is represented by main precipitation of Cu, Zn, and Pb minerals. Substage Ic is characteristic of hematite occurrence and is shown only at the Kuryong and Cheongryong deposits. Some differences in the ore mineralization at each mine in the area suggest that the evolution of hydrothermal fluids in the area varied in space (both vertically and horizontally) with respect to igneous rocks relating the ore mineralization. Fluid inclusion data show that stage I ore mineralization mainly occurred at temperatures between ${\approx}350^{\circ}$ and ${\approx}200^{\circ}C$ from fluids with salinities between 9.2 and 0.5 wt.% eq. NaCl. In the waning period of substage Ia, the high temperature and salinity fluid gave way to progressively cooler, more dilute fluids of later substage Ib and Ic (down to $200^{\circ}C$, 0 wt.% NaCl). There is a systematic decrease in the calculated ${\delta}^{18}O_{H2O}$ values with paragenetic time in the Hwacheon-ri hydrothermal system from values of ${\approx}2.7$‰ for substage Ia, through ${\approx}-2.8$‰ for substage Ib, to ${\approx}-9.9$‰ for substage Ic. The ${\delta}D$ values of fluid inclusion water also decrease with decreasing temperature (except for the Daeweon deposit) from -62‰ (substage Ia) to -80‰ (substage Ic and stage III). These trends are interpreted to indicate the progressive cooler, more oxidizing unexchanged meteoric water inundation of an initial hydrothermal system which is composed of highly exchanged meteoric water. Equilibrium thermodynamic interpretation of the mineral assemblages with the variation in amounts of chalcopyrite through the paragenetic time, and the evolution of the Hwacheon-ri hydrothermal fluids indicate that the solubility of copper chloride complexes in the hydrothermal system was mainly controlled by the variation of temperature and $fo_2$ conditions.